Lever and lock



Jan. 1, 1935. R7 THQMAS ETAL 1,986,126

LEVER AND LOCK Filed Oct. 21, 1952 WITNESS: INVENTORS (i Robert Thoma-s Patented Jan. 1, 1935 PATENT OFFICE" 1,9861% 3 LEVER AND LOCK j o f Itobcrt Application This invention relates to levers andlocks, and has for an object to provide a lever which may be employed for a variety of purposes, with improved means for locking it relative to a segment.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a device of the class, a segment which is rigidly secured to any approved or convenient body or device, and with a lever pivoted concentrically of the segment having atone end means for the application of manual stress and releasing, and at or adjacent to the opposite end a part movable upon the segment, to which may be applied'the'working parts, and an improved lock carried by the latter end for locking the lever relative to the segment. i I I A further object of the invention is to provide in combination with a segment, a lever pivoted concentrically thereof, of a block slidable with the lever upon the segment, and providing means for biting and engaging one of the edges of the segment to maintain the attained positionof the lever, and with manual means for releasing the biting engagement of'the locking block.

The invention, therefore, comprises a segment which is secured to any permanent supporting means, and has pivoted concentrically thereof a lever to one end of which the power consuming mechanism is applied and at the opposite end means for applying operating stress, said lever carrying a block sliding upon the segment, so constructed that in one-position it locks and bites one 1 edge of the segment, and in another position, operates freely upon the segment, the lever carrying at one end means for the application of operating stress, also means for moving the locking block to such disengaged position.

In the drawing: 7

Figure 1 is a view of an illustrative embodiment of the invention-seen in side elevation,

Figure 2 is a view of the lever and other means seen in edge elevation, as indicated by arrow 2 at Figure 1, showing also arrow 1 as the point of view of Figure l, and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail view in elevation of a modification.

The improved lever and lock which forms the subject-matter of this application is adapted, with slight variation, to a very wide range of utilities. As at present contemplated, its greatest field of utility will be that of a hand brake on an automotivevehicle to which it is particularly adapted, but in no way limited.

The illustration as shown in the drawing has been directed largely to the particular. type bearing. As shown in the drawing, this means comprises the arms or braces 14, and a pivot 15 in the direction indicated by that arrow, and the bitingof the corner 24 or shoulder 24' with homas andjWilliam Thomas, Blriladelphim la. I

October 21, 1932, Serial No.3 638,846 s'olaa s. (o1. 74 531 which would be applicable to such braking purposes, and for'that purpose a floorj board 10 is shown through which the lever extends.

'The upper end of the lever at 11 will, of course,

be in proper position to be engaged by the hand *5 of the operator. f

Beneath the floor a segment 12 is mounted in any approved manner, as by brackets 13. The

segment 12 has-means for furnishing a central is accommodated by such braces. V

The lever 11 is pivoted at this pivot point 15 "and extends below the pivot point. As shown at Figure l the lever is curved, as at 16,17, and the like, but itis to be understood that this curvature is merely one of example,' and that the invention contemplates the use of "either a straight lever or other curvatures, as the conditions of installation may' make necessary or 20 1 desirable.

The lever is slotted at 18 to accommodate the segment 12 sliding therethrough, and also a link 19, which is pivoted at 20 to the levert' This link 19 has a block 21 pivoted at 22 to the end 25 opposite the pivot 20. This block 21 is also slotted, as at 23, to move slidably upon the segment 12 when the relation is such that it may so freelyslide.

I It is, however, provided with a corner 24, as 30 shown at Figure 1', or a slightly'rounded shoulder 24', as shown at Figure 3, which, when the block 21 is in the position shown at Figures 1 or 3, will bitingly engage the inner edge of the segment 12 and lock the lever against movement in the direction indicated by the arrow at the rod 25, which, in the particular embodiment, would be the rod extending to'the brake.

The stress of the brake would, therefore, be

the segment 12 would prevent such movement.

To efiect the biting by the corner 24 or shoulder 24, a spring 26 is provided. This spring is here shown as a helical spring, but it is to be 45 understood that any spring or other resilient means is within the scope of the invention.

The block 21 is provided with an offset 27 to which is applied the stress for releasing the block. This may be applied by any type of 50 mechanical means found applicable to the particular installation.

There is shown in the drawing a rod 28 which is extended upwardly alongside the lever 11 and connected with the thumb piece 29, which is 55 devices.

pivoted at 30, When the thumb piece 29 is swung to dotted line position, it depresses the rod 28 and moves the block 21 against the tension of the spring 26, also to dotted line position.

. In the particular example shown, the rod 28 is provided with an out curve 31 passing about the segment 12, but it is to be understood, of course,'that this will follow other changes or modifications of the organization.

In use, stress will be applied to the upper end of the lever'll in the direction indicated by the arrow, which will, through the fulcrum 15,,applystress to the rod 25 or such mechanical devices as may be attached to that end of the lever.

The entire device will move along the segment 12 by a sliding action, and absolutely without noise, until the proper tension has been applied.

At that attained position, the lever will .be-held by the biting engagement of the corner 24 or shoulder 24' with the segment, which is trans- -.mitted"to'the lever through the 'link 19.

The'position and angle of the link 19 is such thatthe greater the stress upon the lever 11 the 'der 24,;will lie,substantially-parallel with the lines of the segment 12 and will, therefore, move along thesegment without engagement.

The seating of thebrake, if'such be the instrumentality, and releasing the same, is accomplished with absolute noiselessness and the-device is such thatitwill hold at any attained position, not depending upon the spacing of notches of a rack, as is customary in such The particular advantages'are, therefore, the

absolute retention of the attained tension, the

noiseless moving of the devicein both directions,

and the maintaining of the attained position at any point, irrespective of any spacing of parts.

Of course, the lever and lock illustrated may be modified and changed invarious ways without departing from the invention herein set forth and hereafter claimed;

We claim: I

1. The combination of a segment, a lever .fulcrumed concentrically of the segment and extending from the segment beyond the fulcrum and provided at saidextended end with a hand hold, a block slidable upon the segment and-having. means for makingjbitingengagementtherewith, and a link connecting the block and lever. 2. The combination'with a dependent segment, of a lever fulcrumed concentrically, thereof and extending thereabove and to said segment, a block having a recess proportioned to slide upon the segment, and contoured to provide a biting part, and a link connecting said block and extended end of the lever.

3. The combination with a segment, of a lever fulcrumed concentrically thereof and having one end extending toward the segment and the other end extendingin the opposite direction, a block having a recess mounted to slide upon the segment adjacent to the end of the lever extending in that direction, said recess being contoured to provide a part having biting engagement with Z :theedge of the segment, a link connecting the block and lever, and mechanical means for releasing the biting engagement of the block with the segment.

I 4. :Thecombination with a segment, of a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends concentrically of the segment and extending upon opposite sidesof thefulcrum, one of said extensions being in thedirection-of the segment, a block provided with a slot sliding upon the segment, said slot being contoured to provide a part adapted to make biting engagement with the segment, a link connecting the leverand block, said link having, an inclination toward the fulcrum, a re- ;silient member tending to hold the block in bitingengagemcnt with the segment, and manual means toapply stress in opposition to said resilient-means to-disengage the biting engagement. I

5. .The combination with a segment, of a lever --fulcrumed intermediate its ends concentrically of the segment and extending in opposite directions from the fulcrum, one of said extensions being toward the segment, an L-shaped block having a recess therethrough mounted to ,slideupon-thi's segment, said recess being contouredtoprovide apart adapted to make biting engagement .with the segment, a link connecting the block and lever, saidlink normally occupying an {inclination toward the fulcrum, a, resilient member tending to'hold the block in biting engagement with-the segment, and means to apply manual stress ,to-one legof the'bloek tomove the block against the tension of the resilient member and release the biting engagement.

6-. In, combination a lever having a slot therethrough, a blockhaving a slot therethrough, a segment slidably positioned through both slots,

the walls of the slot through the block being contoured to make biting engagement with the segment, a link pivoted in the slot of the lever and inclined to and connecting the lever and block, work applying means carriedby the lever,

and, manual means to oscillate the link to release the block from engagement with the segment.

ROBERT THOMAS. WILLIAM THOMAS. 

